The Colgan Heritage Weekend is an occasion for visitors and locals to enjoy an array of events with special emphasis on the life and times of Franciscan Monk John Colgan who was born in Carndonagh and after whom the Parish hall was named. The 8th Annual weekend featured exhibitions, talks, guided tours and music.

A Country Walk From Cashel To Drumballycaslan, Inishowen, Donegal

Starting out at the Colgan Hall we took a short bus ride to Cashel on the outskirts of Carndonagh with our tour guide Dessie McCallion. The group consisted of cultural heritage enthusiasts, ladies from the Aileach Walking group and some American visitors from Minnesota and Illinois.

Flint found during Colgan Heritage Weekend ~ Image Hugh Farren

As the mist lifted we retraced the steps of our ancestors back in time along country lanes looking at thatched cottages, pictured below, marshlands, bog, wildflowers, native wildlife, buzzards, scots pine and more. We paused at the Culdaff river for a history lesson and admired the ‘pebble’, pictured above, found nearby, which is a piece of flint from the Neolithic Period. On a hilltop at Sludden we admired commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Here we learned about, and saw examples of early Christian settlements in the area.

Traditional Thatched Cottage ~ Image Hugh Farren

I look forward to next years Colgan Heritage Weekend to uncover even more about our rich past in the Inishowen countryside.